Aggies edge Lobos in intrastate rivalry game, 65-62
NMSU completes first season sweep of UNM in 15 years
FALBUQUERQUE or a few flashes, The Pit was something close to The Pit of old.
For a precious few moments, it felt like college basketball had ignited the passion in the increasingly fickle fan base once again.
In the end, it was just another stinging step in the rebuilding process for a University of New Mexico men’s basketball team undergoing more growing pains than it has in a generation.
Behind the biggest and most boisterous crowd of the season, the Lobos led New Mexico State for most of the final 10 minutes but went ice cold down the stretch and missed two 3-pointers in the closing seconds in a 65-62 loss to the Aggies on Saturday night.
It completes NMSU’s first season sweep of UNM in 15 years and marks the first time since the 2002-03 season that the Aggies swept both UTEP and the Lobos. It also made New Mexico State’s Chris Jans the first Aggies coach to sweep the two rivals in his first year since 1917.
“I don’t think about any of that stuff,” he said afterward.
If anyone is aware of the history of the rivalry, it’s New Mexico’s Paul Weir. The former Aggies coach and first-year Lobos front man pleaded with the fans not to give up on his club despite the mounting losses in what is now a 3-7 start.
“We just have to find a way to improve and find a way to win games like this before this season is over,” he said. “Thank you so much to the fans. Please stick with us.”
Saturday’s crowd of 12,768 was involved from the get-go. Despite the absence of senior Sam Logwood, who abruptly walked away from the team Friday, the Lobos gave the fans plenty to cheer about, taking a 54-45 lead on a Makuach Maluach steal and dunk at the 10-minute mark of the second half.
It brought the crowd to its feet and, for a moment, made the building sound a little like it had in days past.
Unfortunately for the rail-thin Lobos roster, the bottom fell out from that point on. They were held to one made field goal in the final 10 minutes as the Aggies went on a 19-6 run to regain the lead.
UNM had two final chances to win or tie the game in the final seconds. Antino Jackson missed a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining and NMSU holding a 64-62 lead. Lobos guard Troy Simons grabbed the rebound and had his follow-shot roll gently off the rim.
Zach Lofton hit one of two free throws at the other end, then New Mexico’s Anthony Mathis bounced a potential game-tying 3-pointer off the front of the rim at the final buzzer.
“That’s one of those shots you keep rewinding in your head,” he said. “Just wishing you could get another shot.”
Unlike the first game against the Aggies in which the Lobos were
We just have to find a way to improve and find a way to win games like this before this season is over. Thank you so much to the fans. Please stick with us.” Paul Weir, UNM coach
outrebounded 50-25 in Las Cruces, Saturday’s game saw that advantage cut to 44-36 even without the 6-foot-8 Logwood in to help out.
Jachai Simmons started in his place while Jackson took Chris McNeal’s spot as the starting point guard. Weir said the shakeup had more to do with defensive matchups to combat NMSU overwhelming size.
It nearly worked as all three Aggie big men played with foul trouble, forcing NMSU to go with a smaller lineup that evened the playing field. The Lobos responded with a more aggressive full-court press that helped open the nine-point lead — a lead that was padded, in part, by a rare Joe Furstinger 3-pointer.
The 6-foot-9 senior forward hit from downtown at the 11:17 mark of the second half, giving him his first 3 (and second of his career) since his freshman season.
Weir credited the Aggies’ experience as being the big difference in the final 10 minutes.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t get it done,” he said. “And I’m real sorry for our guys. They are fighting with everything they’ve got. We have several of them that are just learning Division I basketball and it shows up, I think, over the course of the game. It doesn’t mean they don’t want it, it doesn’t mean they don’t try hard, it doesn’t mean they don’t work hard. They’re giving it everything they’ve got but we’re just not quite there, yet.”
LOBO NOTES
Border war: The Lobos have the week off for final exams before getting a visit from Arizona next Saturday. The Wildcats, of course, started the season ranked in the top five and climbed all the way to No. 2 before losing three straight and dropping completely out of the polls.
They’ve since won three straight, including a close win at UNLV on Dec. 2 and a win at home three nights later against No. 7 Texas A&M.
Updates: Weir shut down any discussion about Logwood’s status, saying only that he had nothing to add to the news that came out Friday after Logwood told the team he needed a leave to consider his future.
Lobos big man Connor MacDougall again did not suit up. He returned to practice this week but has not been officially cleared to play after injuring his foot and ankle Oct. 27 against Brigham Young.
Stats: Lofton had 22 points for the Aggies to lead all scorers. He was, however, just 5 of 12 from the free throw line. A.J. Harris added 12 points while freshman Johnny McCants and starting forward Jemerrio Jones each had eight points and 10 rebounds.
Jones finished with four fouls but he was not on the floor for the last several minutes. Jans said he was suffering from cramps and couldn’t play.
The Lobos got a team-high 14 points from Jackson, but he had four turnovers to one assist in 25 minutes. Simons had 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Dane Kuiper did not score in 17 minutes of playing time, missing both shots he attempted.